English – Writing

Writing in Key Stage 1 and 2

Our Writing curriculum at Penshurst CE Primary School is taught using ‘Curriculum by Unity Partnership’ (CUSP). CUSP is an ambitious research and evidence based approach which is built around the belief that every child should be taught the key skills and techniques to be able to communicate effectively in their writing. Our curriculum is carefully structured to ensure pupils build upon prior knowledge to master writing and develop their ideas.

Expert subject knowledge is carefully woven into each Writing unit, giving teachers the opportunity to teach and rehearse key knowledge and skills before children then apply this learning to meaningful, extended pieces of writing. This careful architecture of the curriculum ensures pupils revisit different writing genres twice in each year, to maximise the opportunities for progression and consolidate their skills, so they become writers for life. Within the CUSP curriculum, punctuation and grammar is taught both directly and discretely enabling children to see how it is embedded in example texts and then given the opportunity to apply this to their own writing.

Here is a link to CUSP for more information:

Writing in the EYFS

In Reception we believe that to be a successful writer the children need to have both the desire to have something to write about, and the physical capability to master a writing tool. To inspire the children to write we carefully plan play opportunities throughout our learning environment so that children see writing as part of play, and a vital means to communicate. As adults, we model this by immersing ourselves in their play so we can model purposeful writing and encourage the children to follow our lead.

We also use ‘Drawing Club’, created by Greg Botrill, which uses high quality texts to expose children to rich, exciting vocabulary, and then gives them an inspirational theme to draw about. Adults model a drawing first; carefully including pre-writing shapes, then letter shapes, words and onto sentences, all with purpose. The children then create their own version, unleashing their imaginations onto the page. This approach not only exposes the children to a range of new vocabulary whilst providing a purpose for mark making, but also provides an extended period of time where children are using mark making tools and developing their fine motor control and pen grip. As the year progress, children will take part in activities where they have the opportunity to apply their developing phonic knowledge to a range of exciting writing opportunities, within all areas of the curriculum.

Here is a link to Greg Botrill’s website ‘Can I Go and Play Now’ for more information:

“CAN I GO AND PLAY NOW..?” – Effective Early Years Practice

• Writing Long Term Plan Cycle A + B
• Writing Progression Map
• Writing Policy

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